SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Sunday he backs a Group of Seven (G7) Japan’s joint statement emphasizing the need to reduce dependence on trade with China.
THE G7 rich countrieswhich increasingly sees China as a threat to economic security, released a statement from the city of Hiroshima on Saturday referring to reducing risk, not decoupling economic engagement with the world’s second-largest economy.
Speaking to the media in Hiroshima, Albanese, who attended a meeting of Quad leaders on the sidelines of the summit on Saturday, said according to an official transcript: “I support the G7 communiqués on international relations that we have there. “.
Albanese said Australia had “for some time” expressed concern about China’s activity, pointing to the “friction” of an Australian aircraft.
In May 2022, a Chinese fighter jet dangerously intercepted an Australian military aircraft in the South China Sea region, according to the Australian Department of Defence.
“We have expressed concern in the past, we will continue to do so,” Albanese said.
“What we need to do is make sure we work in a way that builds peace, security and stability in the region.”
China, which strongly opposed the G7 statement, complained to summit organizer Japan, the Chinese foreign ministry said.
The leaders of the United States, Japan, India and Australia – a group known as the Quad – said in Hiroshima they were looking for a region “where no country dominates and no country is dominated,” language that also seemed to be aimed at China.
Albanese’s comments come amid a recent thaw in Australia-China relations, with China set to resume imports of Australian timber and talks underway about a Prime Minister’s visit to Beijing.
Australia’s main political opposition, the Liberal-National Coalition, on Sunday urged Albanese to wait for confirmation of the lifting of trade sanctions before traveling to China.
“This clarity should be there before the prime minister embarks on an official state visit to Beijing,” Shadow Foreign Secretary Simon Birmingham told ABC television.
THE G7 rich countrieswhich increasingly sees China as a threat to economic security, released a statement from the city of Hiroshima on Saturday referring to reducing risk, not decoupling economic engagement with the world’s second-largest economy.
Speaking to the media in Hiroshima, Albanese, who attended a meeting of Quad leaders on the sidelines of the summit on Saturday, said according to an official transcript: “I support the G7 communiqués on international relations that we have there. “.
Albanese said Australia had “for some time” expressed concern about China’s activity, pointing to the “friction” of an Australian aircraft.
In May 2022, a Chinese fighter jet dangerously intercepted an Australian military aircraft in the South China Sea region, according to the Australian Department of Defence.
“We have expressed concern in the past, we will continue to do so,” Albanese said.
“What we need to do is make sure we work in a way that builds peace, security and stability in the region.”
China, which strongly opposed the G7 statement, complained to summit organizer Japan, the Chinese foreign ministry said.
The leaders of the United States, Japan, India and Australia – a group known as the Quad – said in Hiroshima they were looking for a region “where no country dominates and no country is dominated,” language that also seemed to be aimed at China.
Albanese’s comments come amid a recent thaw in Australia-China relations, with China set to resume imports of Australian timber and talks underway about a Prime Minister’s visit to Beijing.
Australia’s main political opposition, the Liberal-National Coalition, on Sunday urged Albanese to wait for confirmation of the lifting of trade sanctions before traveling to China.
“This clarity should be there before the prime minister embarks on an official state visit to Beijing,” Shadow Foreign Secretary Simon Birmingham told ABC television.
